Watch: 2021’s first solar eclipse, the ‘ring of fire’

For a few hours on Thursday morning, the sun was almost completely covered by the moon, causing a solar eclipse. 

The so-called ring of fire is caused when the silhouette of the moon is surrounded by a ring of sunlight. Thursday’s ring of fire started after sunrise north of Lake Superior and began crossing remote regions of Canada, on its way into Greenland and the Arctic Ocean before going over the North Pole, The New York Times reported. 

Several news organizations and social media users, including some in Washington, D.C., New York City and other locations along the East Coast, were able to catch a glimpse of the somewhat rare astronomical event. 

Time lapse: The #SolarEclipse rises behind the Mackinac Bridge in northern Michigan this morning. pic.twitter.com/qzszdG1iuk

— John Kraus (@johnkrausphotos) June 10, 2021

Partially eclipsed sun rising over the National Mall as seen from the Air Force Memorial #SolarEclipse #capitalweather pic.twitter.com/yun3LzAPEZ

— Luke Ward (@Luke__Ward) June 10, 2021

Shot by my daughter, processed by me. #Eclipse2021 #solareclipse2021 #SolarEclipse #annulareclipse pic.twitter.com/RZQ3R0quxh

— Andrea Girones ⚖️ (@AndreaGirones) June 10, 2021

This morning’s partial solar eclipse over the Capitol ⁠
⁠
: @mikeiserman⁠#WashMagPhoto pic.twitter.com/cdjRUgwKzW

— Washingtonian (@washingtonian) June 10, 2021

Was able to capture the Partial Solar Eclipse in Sumerduck, VA this morning. #SolarEclipse #solareclipse2021 #vawx @capitalweather @StormHour @hbwx @spann @wxbrad pic.twitter.com/ft1uR2cS8O

— Adam Moore (@AdamMooreWX) June 10, 2021

BEAUTIFUL! The “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse lit up the sky behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City early Thursday morning. ☀️ https://t.co/b6zuAXY9X3 pic.twitter.com/WsHj3ZF3Z4

— KMBC (@kmbc) June 10, 2021

Solar eclipse is seen during early hours of morning in New York, United States https://t.co/uxKOT956KY

: Tayfun Coşkun, İslam Doğru pic.twitter.com/vb7rthiq5n

— Anadolu Images (@anadoluimages) June 10, 2021

The next eclipse is expected to come Oct. 14, 2023, and will sweep from Oregon to Texas in a 125-mile path that will continue to the Yucatán Peninsula and South America, according to the American Astronomical Society.